KUALA LUMPUR – Amid facing global challenges, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government has never neglected the rising costs of living faced by the people and is doing its best to overcome this.
“This year, the government will spend RM64 billion on subsidies, assistance and incentives to, among others, minimise the cost of living through price controls, financial assistance and providing other services to the people,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (Sri Aman-GPS).
She had questioned the government on its efforts to improve benefits and aid schemes to ease living costs, especially for the B40 and M40 groups.
In the reply, Anwar, who is also finance minister, said apart from the huge allocation, the government will also expand the distribution of basic necessities to 25 new areas, including Paloh and Passin in Sarawak, as well as Pasir Raja in Terengganu and Kuala Krai in Kelantan with an allocation of RM225 million.
Through this programme, the government covers the cost of transportation to ensure that people in rural areas continue to purchase goods at reasonable prices, he said.
To aid the B40 group, the government has also initiated the Rahmah cash contribution scheme, dubbed Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR).
The first phase, worth RM1.67 billion, assisted some 8.7 million people last January.
This programme will continue with several reforms in mind so that households that are greatly affected will benefit more from STR, he added.
In the next round, it is expected to ease the burden of almost nine million recipients, with an allocation of almost RM8 billion.
He also said the government allocated RM100 million for the implementation of the Rahmah Sale scheme (Jualan Rahmah) in 222 parliamentary constituencies, offering basic goods at prices up to 30% cheaper than the market. – The Vibes, March 10, 2023
